The strongest current debate is between groups known as the Oxfordians and theStratfordians. Oxfordians say that Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford, wrote the plays under the pen name' William Shakespeare.Stratfordians, on the other hand, say that the works were all written by William Shakespeare, an actor known to have been born at Stratford in 1564.The challenge for both sides is to produce solid evidence.So far, neither side has come up with much.